Shop in Berlin: Pro qm

Pro qm is probably the best (non-fiction) bookstore in Berlin. This has a simple reason (explained in more than one line): With a focus on urban development, politics, pop culture, Ökonomiekritik, architecture, arts and design, their selection of books and magazines is outstanding and always up-to-date.

When I came to Berlin many many (9) years ago, this book store was quickly one of my favorite places, although it was one of those spots you admire but you don’t feel “cool” or maybe even “smart” enough to spend much time in. I finally and luckily overcame feeling self-conscious, because Pro qm is a lot more welcoming than I initially thought. It is in fact very much like a social hub, where people come to talk about new book releases, translations and magazines, not only during their various events.

The days were we went to the bookstore to buy a certain book, we’ve been looking for are probably over, when the majority of us is quick to just order online – I can tell you, book vendors feel the pressure. While an easy solution to that is, though, to support your local shop by ordering it through their website/store, Pro qm also offers free shipping, by the way, there’s another, yet so simple reason being faithful to your local book place makes so much sense. The presentation of selected books, where you can find books, you’ve never even thought about wanting to read. Pro qm is where I found the work of Tiqqun, or the German series by Textem, “Kleiner Stimmungsatlas” with essays on (very German) “Angst” or “Bildzweifel” (doubt of the image). Imagine a life without bookstores…